PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (Mar. 8, 2024) – Powered by 7.2 shutout innings pitched from freshman Nevin Scaperotti (Stormville, N.Y./Carmel) and a game-high two RBI from sophomore Zach Ashline (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) in game one, the Mercy University baseball team earned a 7-0 win over Pace University before falling 9-3 in game two on Friday afternoon at Peter X. Finnerty Field.

The Mavericks (5-8) have their three-game winning streak snapped with the game two loss to the Setters (2-4).

Game 1: Mercy 7, Pace 0

The game remained scoreless until the top of the third when Mercy scored three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Junior Frankie Asaro (East Williston, N.Y./Wheatley) led off the inning with a double before junior Alfred Hoti (New York, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) reached on a fielder's choice. Freshman Peyton Jemison (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe Woodbury) was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second before junior Joseph Gonzalez (Monroe, N.Y./Rockland CC) singled to load the bases. Junior Jaden Caballero (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) then reached on a fielder's choice with Hoti and Jemison scoring on a throwing error by the pitcher to give Mercy a 2-0 lead. Ashline then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Gonzalez to make it 3-0.

Mercy increased their lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning. Graduate student Nolan Giblin (Syracuse, N.Y./Jamesville Dewitt) led off the inning with a double and scored after a strikeout and a passed ball.

The Mavericks made it 6-0 in the fifth inning. Jemison walked to lead off the inning and stole second before moving over to third on a groundout. Ashline then doubled home Jemison to make it 5-0. Junior Gabe Sanders (Dunedin, Fla./Central Alabama CC) then hit a double down the left field line, scoring Ashline to make it 6-0.

Scaperotti did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and Mercy scored their final run of the game in the eighth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Giblin doubled with one out and scored on a Brandon Nolasco (Chester, N.Y./Mount Saint Mary College) RBI single.

Junior Matthew Manzoeillo (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) recorded the final four outs of the game without allowing a run to preserve the first career win for Scaperotti.

Scaperotti pitched 7.2 scoreless innings with just three hits allowed and seven strikeouts to earn his first collegiate win. Manzoeillo pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Ashline went 1-for-3 with two RBI and Sanders went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Nolasco went 1-for-1 with an RBI and Giblin went 2-for-3 with two runs. Gonzalez went 2-for-5 with a run and Asaro went 1-for-3.

Pace was led by Matthew Rinaldi who went 1-for-3. Patrick Gleason allowed two earned runs in 5.0 innings to take the loss.

Mercy had eight hits and no errors and Pace had four hits and one error.

Game 2: Pace 9, Mercy 3

After a scoreless first inning, the Setters scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-0 lead. Pace added five runs in the fourth and one run in the sixth to take a 9-0 lead.

The Mavericks scored three runs in the top of the seventh to make it 9-3. Sophomore Kolongi Goins (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./FDR) and Sanders led off the inning with back-to-back walks before sophomore John Nisco (Tarrytown, N.Y./Sleepy Hollow) hit a triple to center field that scored both Goins and Sanders to make it 9-2. Nolasco then grounded out to shortstop, scoring Nisco to make it 9-3. A popup to second and a groundout to second ended the inning and gave Pace the 9-3 win.

Nisco went 1-for-3 with two RBI and Goins went 1-for-1 with a run. Nolasco recorded an RBI and graduate student John Gillespie (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) made the start on the mound and allowed three runs in 1.2 innings to take the loss. Junior Jack Sullivan (Orlando, Fla./Allegany College of Maryland) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings of relief and senior Joshua Alvarado (Yonkers, N.Y./Saunders) and sophomore Ryan Ehret (Broad Channel, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy) combined to toss 1.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Pace was led by Rinaldi who went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Dan Brown pitched five shutout innings to earn the win.

Mercy had two hits and two errors and Pace had four hits and no errors.

Head Coach Chris Schoen and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they play at Pace at 11:30 a.m.